Paul Cook has said he will change his line-up when Pompey go to Newport on Boxing Day - and has indicated that will include trying a different formation.

The Pompey boss is set to move away from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation for a visit to one of the league's bottom two.

That could mean a change to 4-4-2 with Conor Chaplin and Michael Smith both starting or perhaps to something more like a 4-3-3 with two wide men in more forward roles supporting one central striker.

The pressure is back on Pompey for the visit to Rodney Parade after the Blues failed to beat Hartlepool at Fratton last time out.

Pompey go into the hectic Christmas and new year period seven points off a top three place, but with 12 points to play for between now and January 5, things could soon change at the top.

Some have been calling for out-of-form Gary Roberts to be rested while there is support for Milan Lalkovic and Kal Naismith to be given more time.

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